An 18-year-old apprentice was over the drink-drive limit after celebrating Builders’ Friday, magistrates heard.

Christopher Jowett, of Elmsley Street, Steeton, had not intended to drive after being out in Skipton on the last Friday before Christmas, but had been asked to drive his former girlfriend home, the town’s court heard.

Police, alerted to a driver hitting a kerb in Carleton Street at 2.50am on December 21, found Jowett getting out of his car and a road side breath test proved positive. He was found to have 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Jowett, who admitted drink driving, was an apprentice builder celebrating ‘Builders’ Friday’ with friends, the court heard.

John Mewies, for the defendant, said Jowett had met up with his former girlfriend who had asked him to drive her home to Steeton.

Magistrates banned Jowett for 17 months and fined him £140 with costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20. If he completes a rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by 17 weeks.